Chapter 11: The Auction House (1)

The Emperor's Eye.

One of the core elements featured in ‘The Villainess Turns Back Time Again Today’.

The Emperor's Eye is the name given to artificial beings created by the emperor to monitor the nobility. Typically, these Eyes become servants or maids in noble households, reporting directly to the emperor on the nobles' activities.

For those nobles deemed at high risk of rebellion, the Eye takes a darker approach—killing a family member and taking their place.

When an Eye, pretending to be family, discovers that the noble is plotting treason, it reports the information back to the imperial court.

This is the function of the Emperor’s Eye.

Although it’s a measure to prevent rebellion, it's undeniably ruthless. A testament to the imperial family's intense vigilance against betrayal.

"Allen, how are you feeling?"

“No serious issues.”

Of course, even I, the most influential noble in the Arie Empire, have an Emperor's Eye assigned to me. Allen, the butler who has long served the Hardenberg family, is that Eye.

Or rather, he was the Emperor’s Eye.

“Sit down. I need to adjust it.”

“Understood.”

Allen obediently took a seat in the office chair. I gathered mana within myself, feeling a refreshing surge fill my body, and noticed the peculiar mark on the back of his neck.

A reversed emblem of the imperial crest, etched as an inscription.

In the original story, Abel failed to notice this mark and was betrayed by Allen. The reason I can see it now is that my mastery of magic surpasses Abel’s.

‘...Has the corruption worsened?’

This inscription, carved into Allen’s neck and creeping into his mind, is precisely why the Emperor’s Eyes are incapable of defying the imperial commands. The magic forces obedience by etching commands directly onto the body.

Most of the Emperor's Eyes thus live with little free will, bound to follow the empire’s orders.

However, I am using Allen’s inscription to my advantage, turning him into a double agent.

With the right spells, I can suppress the inscription’s effects and even use it to gather intelligence from the imperial side. For me, Allen is a vital asset.

His inscription is a direct channel through which I can access imperial information.

Allen, too, takes joy in being free from decades of mindless obedience, pledging his loyalty to me without question.

It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, one might say.

-Vwoom...

I began to focus on the inscription, suppressing its effects with mana while channeling the information within it. Fragmented words coalesced into clear terms in my mind.

Imperial family... movement... truth.

-Crackle!

A blue spark flickered from the inscription, and I promptly withdrew the magic. Suppressing it any further would risk detection from the imperial side.

“The adjustment is done. This seems to be the limit for obtaining information.”

“Thank you.”

“You may go.”

“Understood. Oh, and regarding the imperial auction house, what are your plans?”

“I intend to visit this afternoon. Inform Adele of this.”

“Understood.”

Allen answered and then left the office.

‘...So the imperial family has finally started to move.’

The information from the princess was accurate. The imperial family, which normally wouldn’t lift a finger over trivial matters, was now beginning to stir. There’s no concrete evidence to come after me yet, but I can’t let my guard down. The imperial family can be as relentless as they are cautious.  

And if the imperial family is moving, then that means ‘they’ must be as well.

The Emperor’s Sword.

In the original story, they were the villains.

The Emperor’s Sword, stronger than the Emperor’s Eye, has an even more powerful inscription carved onto their bodies, serving as executors who eliminate anyone attempting rebellion.  

That is the role of the Emperor's Sword.

‘From now on, things will get critical.’

The story hasn't deviated much from its original course. Except for that foolish crown prince ordering an attack on Adele.

I can only hope that this, too, will go as I’ve planned.

***

"Adele! Adele!"

Right in front of me, Lily looked at me with curious eyes.

“When you left with the Duke this morning, why was your face so red?”

“Ugh…”

I buried my face in the blankets at her innocent question.

I could never tell Lily. I absolutely couldn’t say that I had tried to tease Abel but ended up getting flustered myself. 

I thought I’d built up immunity to cringey lines after hearing the crown prince’s ridiculous lines countless times, but apparently, I hadn’t. 

For some reason, Abel’s words to me felt much more embarrassing than when any other man said them.  

I still don’t understand why.

“Wait… could it be... already?!”

“No!”

I instinctively denied it in a loud voice at Lily’s shocked assumption. It’s just a contract marriage, but there’s no way I could tell her that.

It’s not that I mind telling her everything else; it’s just that Lily, who can’t tell a lie to save her life, might let the contract slip out, and I don’t want to risk that.

“Then, what is it?”

“Well... we just slept together, that’s all.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No, Lily. I mean it literally.”

“Eh? The Duke is too much. How could he not lay a finger on such a beautiful lady like you, Adele!”

The blush I had just managed to calm down returned with a vengeance at her words.

Lily can’t lie. That means she always speaks her genuine thoughts. I saved her from being ostracized by the other maids, which is why she adores me so much.

But even so, her sincerity can sometimes be embarrassing.

“Enough…”

“But I’m serious.”

“That’s what makes it harder to hear…”

“Hmm… I understand. Oh, by the way, aren’t you hungry? I brought some snacks from Miss Laura. Would you like some?”

Lily handed me a tray of snacks from the bedside drawer. It held an assortment of colorful macarons, which she placed on the tea table nearby.

She also put a cup of hot chocolate on the tea table, smiling brightly at me.

“Let’s eat together!”

“Thank you.”

I chuckled, feeling as if I were looking at a big golden retriever, and sat in the chair beside the tea table, popping a macaron into my mouth.

“...It’s delicious.”

“Hehe, right? Actually, I made the macarons with Miss Laura’s help.”

“That’s impressive. It’s the best I’ve ever tasted.”

“Thank you for the compliment…”

When Lily smiled happily, I couldn’t resist patting her head. She closed her eyes contentedly, enjoying the gesture.

She truly is one of the few comforts in my life. Spending time with Lily calms me, and since arriving in this world, she’s been a large part of what’s kept me going.

Of course, these days, Abel also...

‘Of course, I came to see my lovely fiancée.’

...Or maybe not. How could I find comfort in a fiancé who only teases me?

As I pondered this, Lily finished her hot chocolate and sat back comfortably, a bit of brown liquid still lingering at the corner of her mouth.

“What are you doing, being so sloppy?”

I wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and she looked at me with surprise before saying,

“Thank you... Oh, and please give me the handkerchief. I’ll wash it before the day is over!”

“Would you really?”

“Of course!”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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